Money isn't everything but it sure is useful.

Today I had an interesting experience. I drove to Edmonton for work - there was a Chamber of Commerce meeting in St. Albert I was invited to attend. (Yet I still had to pay for my lunch). When I got there I realized that I forgot my wallet. But because they invited me they did let me in (but I still owe them for lunch). I enjoyed the meeting but after I was worried about what I was going to do. I'm a 3 hour drive away from home with no cash or credit cards. The gas tank in the van is nearly empty. I needed parking money because I was going to drop off stuff at the office downtown. Plus without my wallet I had no ID or driver's license or anything. What could I do? In Calgary at busy intersections there are often "homeless" people with cardboard signs telling their sad stories walking between cars at red lights looking for handouts. Maybe these folks aren't "homeless" at all. Maybe they are just people who forgot their wallets and need gas money to get home. (I did have cardboard and Sharpies in the van - I even had metallic Sharpies)

Well, fortunately I have family in and around Edmonton. 2 sisters and their families, aunts and cousins. I figured I'd go begging to my sisters first. Then if that didn't work, I'd find a busy intersection where I could display my sign. I got lucky on my first call. Sheila happened to have cash at home. I drove over to her place and begged for enough cash to buy enough gas to get home.

She made me beg for the money.

I was on my knees but she kindly helped me out.

Thanks to Sheila I did get home.

Now for a little rant.

(Yeah - its easy money for them)

I had some $25 gift cards that I purchased about a year ago to give to customers who signed up for our product at Southgate mall. Since I was on business and Sheila helped me out I figured she deserved a card for her troubles.

After I gave her the card I was driving and was listening to talk radio (I like talk radio but I don't think anyone else in my family does). Today they were talking about gift cards and how customers are complaining about them. Apparently a large percentage of the money spent on gift cards never gets used because they expire or they get eaten away with outrageous "service charges". I had one more $25 gift card so I checked it out to see how much was really on the card. Turns out it was only $6.08. Apparently every month you don't use the card they take off $2 for a "service charge". Basically that means if I give you a $25 gift card for your birthday and you don't use it for a year, that gift card will be only worth $1. That's criminal don't you think. Well, the Provincial Government agrees. Today they announced that effective November 1, gift cards can't expire and "service charges" will not be allowed. If that law was in effect today, Sheila would actually have a $25 gift card worth $25, not $6.08. Next time you get someone a gift card make sure you check out the fine print. Fortunately us Albertan's will be okay after November 1st. The government actually did something good.